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(No Model.) 2 Shee tsS heet 1. v H. P. GRISWOLD.

FIRE ESCAPE LADDER. No. 297,790. I Patented Apr. 29, 1884..

,k R INVEN EJH! Q, wlTNl-zsses UNITED STATES PATENT OFF CE.

HORACE P. GRISWVOLD, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

FIRE-ESCAPE LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 297,190, dated April 29, 1884:.

Application filed January "2,1884. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HORACE P. Garsworn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Extension- Ladders; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thercon,which form apart of this specification.

My invention relates to extension-ladders adapted for fire purposes; and it consists, es-

sentially, in certain novel features of construction and in certain combinations of the same, all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth. r

In the'accompanying two sheets of drawings, Figure 1 represents a front elevation of the lower portion of the ladder, showing the front and rear braces coiled around the drums, the sliding portion of theladder being shown in its extreme contracted or closed position. Fig. 2 represents a side view of the same. Fig. 3 represents a perspective view of the same as applied and attached to the truck of the well-known Hayes Ladder, the same being elevated to a nearly vertical position. Fig. 4, Sheet 2', represents my improved ladder complete and nearly extended to its limit, said figure being'a front View. Fig. 5 represents a side view of the same, showing the braces trnssed or expanded by means of the spreader adapted to be operated at the""lower end of the ladder. Fig. 6 represents the same, showing the trussing device closed. Fig. 7 represents enlarged the end'of the spreaderarm provided with rolls for guiding and retaining the braces in position. I

The object of my invention is to provide.

to be combined and used with the Hayes Truck, so called, although I do not restrict myself to such combination.

The following is a description of my invention and the manner of operating the same:

A in the drawings represents an extensionladder complete, consisting of the lower main portion, a, and sliding portion I), the latter adapted to be operated by means of a chain, 6, which passes over a sprocket-wheel, e, of the lower drum-shaft, d. One end of the chain is secured at z to the ladder b. The other end of said chain,after passing over a wheel mounted upon a shaft, 6 of the ladder a, extends downwardly above the rungs of the ladder a, and is finally secured to the lower end of the ladder b at 2, all as fully shown and as commoi].

My device includes drums h 71/, which are secured upon shafts d d, mounted in suitable bearings at the lower end of the stationary ladder a. Said drums are adapted to receive rotary motion by means of the gear-wheels c and crank c of said shafts.

s 3 represent flexible braces of wire rope, the lower ends thereof being secured to the drums h h and adapted to be coiled or wound thereon, as shown in Fig. 1. The upper ends and exterior to said ladder the brace spread.

ers or struts it, having arms t 26 each terminating in forkedends 1), having sheaves 00. (See Fig. 7.) .Nea-r the center of said spreader is pivoted at n the rod-connection at, extending downwardlyalong the ladder a,and connected to the crank-lever lat a, said leverbeing pivoted to the ladder at Z, all as fully shown in Fig. 5.

The operation is as follows: The sliding ladder portion b is extended (the wire braces 58 at the same time being unwound from their respective drums) by means of the crank c and its connections, the crank being revolved in the arrow direction shown in Fig. 6. When the desired extension is reached, the cranklever Z is depressed, which, by means of the eonnectingrod 11, causes the spreaders tto assume a position at right angles with the ladder, Fig. 5, thereby tightening said braces, thus forming a truss for the ladder. The latter is now adapted to remain in position by means of the ratchet and pawl 1- 0', Figs. 1 and 4. The parts are returned to their normal or closed position by reversing the moreinent, as described above.

My invention is adapted to form a single brace-trusscd ladder by dispensing with one drum and also one arm of the spreader I. My invention is also adapted for single ladders by simply dispensing with the drums, the flexible braces in that case being secured at each end of the ladder, the spreader 6 being retained and operated as shown and herein described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isa 1. In an exlensiondadder, the combination I of the flexible braces s s and geared drums h h with the spreader t, the latter being pivoted to the ladder a and operated by means of the connection a and crank-lever Z, pivoted to the lower end of said ladder, all substantially as shown and set forth.

2. In an extension-ladder, the flexible braces s s, secured to the top end of the sliding ladder 1), and also connected with the geared drums h it of the ladder a, in combination with the pivoted spreaders 1, provided with arms 1/25 adapted to receive said braces, and further provided with means for operating said spreader, all substantially as shown and set forth.

In testimony whereof lhave affixed my sig* nature in presence of two witnesses.

HORACE 1. GRISVOLD.

\Vitnesses:

CHARLES IIAXNIGAN, Geo. H. REMINGTON. 

